CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A growing group of Linn and Benton County residents say a proposed Alliant Energy natural gas plant is too close for comfort.
Alliant Energy wants to build the Morgan Valley Energy Center in unincorporated Linn County, south of Highway 30 near Linn Benton Road.
On Saturday a group called “Save Morgan Valley” collected petition signatures from people in the cities of Atkins, Cedar Rapids, and Fairfax asking Alliant not to build the power plant.
One of the people who signed the petition was Rick Stusse from Fairfax.
“Once I figured out and heard from the news where it was going to be, I was thinking: ‘that’s a little close’,” Stusse said.
Stusse said one of the reasons he’s opposed to the power plant is because of the pollution that could come his way in Fairfax.
“Because the winds around here are mainly out of the north and northwest and the west. And where they’re going to locate that, that’s north-northwest of me,” Stusse said. “If there’s any sort of residue, I don’t want that coming my way,” he said.
Sonja Hadenfeldt, who was collecting signatures, said water usage is another major concern.
However, Alliant Energy said the power plant’s design will minimize water use and wastewater discharge.
But Hadenfeldt said she still has concerns.
“I don’t know that Alliant has a good plan for what they’re going to do with their water after it goes through those engines and cools them. Where are they going to put that sludge water?” Hadenfeldt said.
Ultimately, it will be the Iowa Utilities Commission that will decide if the power plant can be built.
If Alliant receives approval, it says it hopes to begin building the plant in 2027 and be operational by 2030.
TV9 asked Alliant Energy for a statement addressing the petition and it said:
“Alliant Energy is proposing the Morgan Valley Energy Center to support long‑term energy security and reliability for our customers. The project is part of our balanced energy strategy, combining renewable and traditional resources, to ensure safe, reliable and cost‑effective power for the communities we serve.The Morgan Valley Energy Center is subject to extensive, independent regulatory reviews. The Iowa Utilities Commission must determine whether the facility is needed, prudent and in the public interest before it can move forward.”
For more information about Alliant Energy’s proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center click here.
For a list of Save Morgan Valley’s upcoming petition signature events click here.
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